Currently under construction, the LEGOLAND Water Park in Carlsbad, CA is set to open May 28

By Jeff Hoyt

We recently visited LEGOLAND California in Carlsbad outside of San Diego for the very first time. Our two-year-old was impressed with the Fairy Tale Brook ride which took us over water through storybook characters like the Big Bad Wolf and Jack and the Beanstalk, as well as the 3-D Bob the Builder movie.

The indelible memory I have is of the Mexicali earthquake which measured 7.2 on the Richter scale. There was still plenty to do in the quake’s wake as the rides were shut down and inspected, including visiting MINILAND USA, which features notable buildings from New York City to San Francisco made entirely out of LEGOs.

Swimming pools as far north as Los Angeles were sloshing around that day, so it’s probably a good thing that LEGOLAND had yet to open the world’s first LEGO-themed water park. Scheduled to be unveiled May 28 on five-and-a-half acres at the north end of the current park, the family attraction will feature Orange Rush, a family tube slide where up to four people can ride together down a 312-foot long curving track on an 11-foot in diameter half pipe; Twin Chasers, two side-by-side enclosed red tube slides that stretch nearly 130 feet; Splash Out, an open body slide that invites guests to slide 240 feet and “splash out” into the water below; and Joker Soaker, a platform in the wade pool where kids can aim water cannons at each other as a LEGO jester model tells jokes and pours 350 gallons of water down upon them. Also planned are hands-on toddler areas and a place where kids can customize their own soft LEGO rafts.

There is more than enough at the current park to keep families busy for a day, and the LEGOLAND Water Park will require an additional park admission; however, guests will be able to upgrade their standard LEGOLAND California tickets to include LEGOLAND Water Park admissions for just $10, and there is a current money-saving special. Currently, families can get wet at a number of regular LEGOLAND attractions, including those at Pirate Shores and the Fun Town Volunteer Fire Department show. For more information, visit www.legoland.com or www.legolandwaterpark.com.